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07-18-2012, 12:10 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Staten Island, NY
Posts: 4
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Cleaning Copper Detail
This may be the wrong section to be posting this in, and I apologize if it is. I am working on a project where we are restoring an old service. The client would like us to clean the corrosion off of the copper detail in the end line box. We are scheduling a turn off with the utility but I am not sure what type of product(s) would be good for doing this. Does anyone have any experience with this or any suggestions?
Thanks
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07-18-2012, 03:04 PM
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#2
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Licensed Journeyman
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: third world/New Orleans to Mobile
Posts: 5,176
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When I was a little kid and I wanted to shine a penny up I would use a pencil erasure. It works great. Brasso also comes to mind. A paste of baking soda and water works great also.
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“Dammit, Smithers, this isn’t rocket science, it’s brain surgery!”
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07-18-2012, 11:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Depoe Bay, Oregon
Posts: 10,298
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Dunk it in some Coca Cola overnight. Seriously.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to erics37 For This Useful Post:
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07-19-2012, 12:38 AM
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#4
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Master Plumber
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: In your attic.
Posts: 8,118
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erics37
Dunk it in some Coca Cola overnight. Seriously.
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thatll do it. itll also clean your toilet if you pour a can in the bowl over night.
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07-19-2012, 12:40 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Depoe Bay, Oregon
Posts: 10,298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TOOL_5150
thatll do it. itll also clean your toilet if you pour a can in the bowl over night.
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I've got a couple garbage cans full of bright & shiny copper but I've also got a small pile of ugly tarnished stuff. When I have enough I'm going to cram it into a plastic tub and get a 2 liter and give it a bath overnight. If I have a couple pounds it might be worth the cost of the soda pop 
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07-19-2012, 12:41 AM
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#6
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Master Of Disaster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: san diego
Posts: 1,455
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What a shine metal polish or zephyr pro 40
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07-19-2012, 12:42 AM
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#7
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Master Of Disaster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: san diego
Posts: 1,455
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by erics37
I've got a couple garbage cans full of bright & shiny copper but I've also got a small pile of ugly tarnished stuff. When I have enough I'm going to cram it into a plastic tub and get a 2 liter and give it a bath overnight. If I have a couple pounds it might be worth the cost of the soda pop |
That's a good idea eric. Does the coke really shine up the copper?
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07-19-2012, 12:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Depoe Bay, Oregon
Posts: 10,298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by socalelect
That's a good idea eric. Does the coke really shine up the copper?
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Yeah it does. I had one small piece with some green patina on it and it actually gurgled and bubbled a bit when I immersed it 
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07-19-2012, 12:48 AM
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#9
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Master Of Disaster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: san diego
Posts: 1,455
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by erics37
Yeah it does. I had one small piece with some green patina on it and it actually gurgled and bubbled a bit when I immersed it |
Does it have to be coke or will generic cola do the job
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07-19-2012, 12:49 AM
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#10
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Master Plumber
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: In your attic.
Posts: 8,118
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erics37
Yeah it does. I had one small piece with some green patina on it and it actually gurgled and bubbled a bit when I immersed it |
and you people drink that crap...... : :
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Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
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07-19-2012, 01:04 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Depoe Bay, Oregon
Posts: 10,298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TOOL_5150
and you people drink that crap...... : : |
I don't drink Coke.
I drink Barq's Root Beer. It has bite.
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The Following User Says Thank You to erics37 For This Useful Post:
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07-19-2012, 01:19 AM
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#12
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Master Of Disaster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: san diego
Posts: 1,455
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by erics37
I don't drink Coke.
I drink Barq's Root Beer. It has bite.
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Barqs. Is near impossible to find around here most of the time major bummer I really lime it
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07-19-2012, 11:25 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 15
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Jimmy Cagney would no what to do with dirty copper.
If you use coke (phosphoric acid?) you have to rinse the sugar off.
I do not know about other acids such as lime-away or CLR
or Naval Jelly (some of these leave a phosphate coating)
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07-20-2012, 01:44 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Posts: 175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erics37
I don't drink Coke.
I drink Barq's Root Beer. It has bite.
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A&W root beer is so much better. although when A&W is unavailable Barq's is the next best.
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07-20-2012, 11:11 PM
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#15
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my first time
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: mi
Posts: 121
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but seriously... white vinigar probably works better and cheaper
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07-21-2012, 08:30 PM
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#16
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Bandwidth Conservator
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Up here
Posts: 670
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Seriously nobody has suggested muriatic acid yet? 
It will remove the corrosion like nothing else.
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07-22-2012, 01:11 AM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 15
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Be sure and neutralize your acids or they will be like the Energizer bunny
working and working and working
If working on tin or silver plated buss bars do some more research
If this is a buss bar then think of LOX or Pentox or other anti corrosion gel
They are a must for aluminum but work well on copper
Your do not want to tarnish your reputation
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07-22-2012, 01:01 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Depoe Bay, Oregon
Posts: 10,298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wyrmrider
Your do not want to tarnish your reputation
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HA!!!
I don't care what anyone says, puns are always funny.
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The Following User Says Thank You to erics37 For This Useful Post:
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07-22-2012, 04:39 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 78
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I had a dentist tell me once that if you take a tooth and put it in a glass of Coke, the tooth will be gone in several days.
So yeah, it will eat the tarnish from the wire, but be careful of how long you soak it.
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07-22-2012, 07:30 PM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 15
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Seriously
Muriatic acid is another name for Hydrochloric acid or HCl
Even the MIST is highly corrosive to metals and to YOU
One thing to consider is what is the result of removing oxidation with HCL
Copper + HCl gives what?
Tin + HCL gives what?
Lead + HCL gives what?
silver " HCL gives what?
is that WHAT conductive or insulating?
Acid may produce more green that it removes
Give it a try with rubber gloves and goggles
neutralize with baking soda solution
what happens?
BVVC when working with strong acids/ bases
Do not be making any Chlorine gas!
From Wikipedia
Both the mist and the solution have a corrosive effect on human tissue, with the potential to damage respiratory organs, eyes, skin, and intestines. Upon mixing hydrochloric acid with common oxidizing chemicals, such as sodium hypochlorite (bleach, NaClO) or potassium permanganate (KMnO4), the toxic gas chlorine is produced. NaClO + 2 HCl → H2O + NaCl + Cl2 2 KMnO4 + 16 HCl → 2 MnCl2 + 8 H2O + 2 KCl + 5 Cl2
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